Virtual reality is often associated with video games and has a good reason. Most VR developments offer an immersive and unique gaming experience that is impossible with any other medium. Some titles, especially horror games, offer certain titles. je ne sais quoi Not the same on boring and old 2D screens. But gaming isn't the only way to take advantage of the new VR headset. The most interesting thing about VR is that we are still discovering new ways to scrape the surface, educate and entertain ourselves. With this in mind, here are 10 of our favorite VR apps.
Google Expedition (Free)
Travel is one of the joys of globalization, and has opened up a myriad of experiences and cultures for those who were inaccessible a century ago. However, the cost of travel can be expensive and scary to the environment. Why not stand behind the cavaliers of wealthy tourists who hire Sherpa and travel the Google Expeditions app rather than fly to Everest to climb mountains to find killer selfies? The expedition offers educational tours built around topics such as the recycling industry or the anatomy of human skin, as well as VR tours of iconic landmarks like Mount Everest or Teotihuacan. The 360 images involved are very detailed. The expedition cannot capture the atmosphere of ancient ruins or towering mountains, but it offers a great learning experience that does not increase travel budgets or spread carbon into the atmosphere.
Allumette (free)
Platform: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PSVR
The free stop motion VR movie experience of Penrose Studios is absolutely amazing to recall the story of a little girl in a cloudy town. in Alummet, You act like a camera, explore the colorfully drawn world, but if you want, you can ignore the main story. Do not make a mistake: this is a game, not a story. No characters in Alummet The type of communication that they actually use (say, SimsThe same noise mainly works effectively to convey emotions and intentions.
The story itself, based on the poems of Hans Christian Andersen, is attractive and captivating. VR experiences create the same weight and presence as viewers. Alummet, You will truly feel that you have been transferred to the story world. The 20-minute runtime is timeless when compared to most narrative-based VR experiences in less than 10 minutes, but Penrose CEO and founder Eugene Jung see virtual reality and augmented reality as the future of storytelling and push the boundaries. The only way to break the paradigm. Alummet Somewhere in the dark realm between movie stories and video games, but anyway it is higher than the genre with a simple divine experience.
If you enjoyed Alummet Oculus Rift is accessible Henry It is worth checking out.
Get it now:
Steam oculus
Colosseum (free)
Platform: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, OSVR
Best sound design and cool Samurai Jack-esque animation is the driving force Colosseum, A short VR experience that smoothly tells the story in response to the eyes of rooted players. Developer Fire Panda describes it as a "real-time virtual reality storytelling experience." Colosseum Overall, clever detailing is improved in scale. For example, the “Hunter” character is rendered at 12 frames per second and the remaining 60 are contributing to the unique atmosphere.
Hearing and visual cues direct the player's gaze, while certain objects wait for their activation until they are visible to the user, providing a natural sense of speed. Depending on the direction you are heading, certain events occur, so you don't have to keep searching for the next puzzle piece. Originally designed as a demo of Oculus Mobile VRJam Colosseum Do not live as well AlummetVR is fun to show you how you can change storytelling. Oh, and it's free.
Get it now:
Steam oculus
Google Earth VR (free)
Platform: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard
When VR began to blossom as an entertainment medium, one of our first thoughts turned out to be “Google Earth will be incredibly cool.” Flying around the earth like any kind of supersonic eagle is fun and educational at least if you like geography. Even if not, you can use the quick navigation menu to visit landmark sites like the Sphinx or the Golden Gate Bridge or digitally visit the Djibouti capital.
Naturally, many landscapes and areas seem to be nothing more than colorful stains (especially if you use Google Cardboard), but what should you do because it's a free app? Zooming in vast distances in seconds and descending on huge structures like the Hoover Dam is thrilling even if you can't drive individual vehicles. You may have experience with Google Earth before. More fun in virtual reality. Do not expect too much detail.
Get it now:
Steam Oculus Google Play Store
King Spray Graffiti VR ($ 15)
Platform: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift
Have you ever liked street artists? No, it's not like someone who painted gold and still standing for hours. a real Street artists — Banksy or Shepard Fairey expand highway overpasses and windy rooftops to stand out (or in some cases ridicule) the interior Rembrandt for urban passers-by. in King sprayFrom the lab to the rooftop, (virtual) spray paint can be used to mark one of the five digital walls (legally) to make that dream come true.
Whether you prefer alley walls or trains, King spray Realistic canopy and spray effects finished with different can caps and pressures allow you to fully customize your masterpiece. You can load an image and project it onto a paint surface to act as a stencil, save a 360-degree screen capture, and even paint online with up to three friends. What more can you want? Yes, you can throw loose objects like bricks or bottles in a true VR way. Shit, I feel like a gangster
Get it now:
Steam oculus
Littlstar (free)
Platform: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PSVR, Samsung Gear VR
It's fun to watch content from Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube using a VR headset. It's like visiting a private IMAX cinema at any time without dropping obscene amounts of coins into popcorn and cookie dough bites. (Unlike the next generation IMAX). Littlstar VR Cinema transforms the game by providing a complete library of 360-degree video designed to feel like a cameraman. Littlstar offers a perspective you can't get anywhere else, whether you are educated about the earthquake after the Nepal earthquake or simply want to see a music video.
Broadway theater content, sports content and content for children make it one of the best VR experiences. It's also free. On some platforms like Rift, the user interface is smoother than on other platforms, but there are some complaints from the user. If it's a material type, you can also shoot and upload your own 360-degree content for others to see and enjoy.
Get it now:
Steam oculus
Ocean lift ($ 10)
Platform: Oculus Rift
The open sea is a terrible but amazing place, and its total depth Ocean lift. This experience is similar to African safaris, but you can roam freely wherever you want and of course underwater. Explore 12 huge habitats at your leisure, observing marine wildlife including dolphins, manatees, sharks and more. Head to the surface and poke with sea turtles or jump into deeper waters to meet more dangerous and potentially deadly animals.
If you just want to sit back and watch the fish go by Ocean lift It can be a calming, therapeutic experience. If you want to get the most out of the game, you can surprise your water sleeve to become a survival horror game. With a little touch, such as the outline of a diving mask around the edge of the screen, this will be a truly memorable experience. If you don't want to pay for the full experience, check out the Gear VR demo here.
Get it now:
Oculus
Fu Show (Free)
Platform: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, OSVR
Of all the fantastic possibilities that the commercialization of virtual reality can offer, talk shows are very few on the list. After all, the person who really wants to enter the shoes of the audience Oprah, Without receiving a free gift?
However, it can be cool. Fu Show Hosted by Will Smith, a Tested co-founder of Foo (aka Foo), is technically a talk show, but more than that. Funded by a kickstarter and equipped with motion capture, the show, along with digitized Smith, talks with digitized customers about the game and technology culture.
You may be wondering, “Why is this in VR?” Good question! The coolest thing Fu Show The creative use of VR is to move viewers directly to the game environment discussed on the screen. For example, the first episode (technically episode 0) is where the viewer Fire watchYou can walk around, research surroundings and interact with things while enjoying insightful commentary. Next episode is Smith interviewed Brendon Chung by Blendo Games about hacker puzzle games Quadrilateral cowboyThe interview was in one of the gaming environments. Honestly, we're not sure which schedule the show will stick to, but it's a creative concept that gamers should love.
Get it now:
Steam oculus
Tilt Brush ($ 20)
If not artistic type Tilt brushes Can surprise you. Using a motion sensor for the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift Touch controller, the app lets you “paint” in three-dimensional space to create absolutely amazing artwork in imaginable colors. Motion control is amazingly accurate, and digital media means you can go back to make mistakes by mistake. Even if you are not naturally creative Tilt brushes Will bring your new side.
Sadly, in addition to painting, which is limited to a single brush shape, you can emphasize the elements of painting by adding cool effects such as sparkling stars or smoke trails. The Oculus Rift version boasts a cool "preview" feature, but you can enjoy the app on any platform. Currently Google (author) Tilt brushes Mentioned lack of precision of tracking software on PSVR. If you own a Vive or Rift Tilt brushes. It's one of the best VR experiences for now, and it introduces a whole new art medium that both creative and non-creative can enjoy.
Get it now:
Steam oculus
Virtual desktop ($ 14 +)
Platform: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, OSVR
Have you ever fantasized about browsing a computer in virtual reality? Fairly strange parents Where does Timmy actually go on the Internet? The same is true of us. If that sounds interesting, do we have good news for you? Virtual desktop You can use your computer in VR when you browse the web, watch Netflix, or play games. In Hell, you can manage your spreadsheets in VR, but above all, I think it can get in the way.
This app works well in multi-monitor setups and it is highly recommended to use the headset to rotate the screen back and forth.
Get it now:
Steam oculus
Within (free)
Platform: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, OSVR, PSVR, Google Cardboard
within From crazy on-rail fantasy rides to 360-degree music videos, it provides a platform for watching amazing content from VR creators around the world. New experiences are added regularly, including 13-minute 360-degree videos based on popular TV shows. Mr. Robot Entertain and educate you in the most immersive way. View content from news media, music groups, and movie studios like NBC, Apple, New York Times, and Vice Media.
possibleteam My video series explores technology through VR headset lenses, and each episode covers a variety of topics such as hovercraft and robot dogs. The show is directed by David Gelb (Chef's Table), New episodes are released regularly. If you don't download within, You are liberating the service yourself. The app is free and even if some content doesn't interest you, the library available will grow over time. Video quality is different Animation content is smoother than live action content. But there is no reason to reject himself within experience.
Get it now:
Steam Oculus Google Play Store
NYT VR (free)
Platform: Android, iPhone, Samsung Gear VR
VR games tend to get a lot of media attention, but 360 movie productions are interesting using virtual reality technology (if it's an embryo). While people are still figuring out the best way to immerse viewers in the movie, there are interesting experiments. The New York Times produces the highest quality work in 360 video areas, and everyone needs to watch their smartphones.
Currently there are no vast libraries in NYT VR, but the current video covers a variety of topics. One woman delivers her first narration after receiving a cochlear implant and how it differs from the childhood rhythm experience, with a narrated story highlighted by a refined picture. Another shows viewers inside the studio as if the rock band The National is recording their latest album. The making value is exquisite. As viewers look around, images flow smoothly.
Get it now:
Google Play Store Oculus iTunes
Fulldive VR (free, including in-app purchases)
Platform: Google Cardboard, Daydream, iPhone, Android
Fulldive VR calls itself a "social all-in-one VR platform". In other words, it provides a platform for users to explore VR content from various sources, share the results with friends and comment on them. This app is compatible with Google Cardboard and is easy to use. The app's interface puts you in a 3D environment where you can navigate menus, adjust settings, and view your friends list. Like many Cardboard apps, users can see and navigate to specific icons. In addition to "trending" videos, Fulldive sorts content based on emotions like "cute" or "scary". This is not always the easiest way to find what you want.
The content itself comes from a variety of sources, including the New York Times and Discovery. Users can jump from a short CGI movie avoiding short squid to a documentary scene of a first-person elephant. If you are looking for rich VR content, Fulldive is a great resource.
Get it now:
Google Play Store iTunes
Editors' Picks